This is Dearica Hamby’s third season with the Los Angeles Sparks, and she has not disappointed since joining the organization in 2023. She excelled in the inaugural season of Unrivaled Basketball, finishing with 35 points in a game against the Mist. Hamby’s strength lies in scoring during the screen-and-roll; most of the time, she scores in the paint and attacks the rim for scoring opportunities. She is also a shooter and hustles for the rebounds. Hamby does it all and it’s an advantage for the Sparks to have her in rotation. In three games this season, she has started all three and has played 34 minutes per game.
Hamby is shooting 50% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Another strength is her rebounding ability; she is unafraid of the physicality of the game. So far, she is averaging nine total rebounds per game. Hamby is also a team player, sharing the ball and averaging 1.7 assists while contributing defensively with one steal per game. Although she has yet to contribute in blocks, she usually averages 0.3 blocks per game.
This is a good sign for the Sparks: one of their star players is starting the 2025 season strong, and Kelsey Plum joining the team this season is a bonus for the franchise. Plum made her debut with the Sparks, averaging 26.7 points per game while playing 38 minutes per game in three games, shooting 44.2% from the field and 45.8% from three. The two friends and teammates can make this year special for the Sparks, who have been striving to make the playoffs for a few years; this could be the year for them.
The Sparks are playing the Golden State Valkyries tonight at 10:00 pm ET.
